Composite fabric



June 12; 1923.

. 1,458,918 G. O. COOMBS COMPOSITE FABRIC Filed May 5, 1921 2Sheets-Sheet 1 June 12, 1923. 1,458,918

G. O. COQMBS COMPOSITE FABRIC- Filed May 5, i921. Sheets -Sheet 2 ,wswmll Patented June 12, 1923.

UNITED s'r enoaen o'rrs coomns, or rnovrnnrrcn, BHODE IsLAnn.

' COMPOSITE FABRIC.

Applicatlonflled Kay 5, 1921. Serial No. 466,887.

' To all'whom it may concern:

, relates to a composite fabric stifl'ened and reinforced by filamentsand adapted for making boxes and containers or other packaging purposes.

One of the purposesof the invention is to provide a compositefabrichaving a layer reinforced by strengthening fibres or filaments andhaving a relatively thick stiffening layer which may be of cheapmaterial with a stiffness suflicient to enable a box or container formedthereof to stand up with out 'colla sing.

The c aracter of the invention will be best understood by reference tothe follow ing description of one good form thereof shown in theaccompanying drawings,

V wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form 'of composite fabr1cembodying the invention, having a portion pulled outward and backward todisclose the internal construction of the fabric;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another form of the composite fabrichaving a por-' inforcing filaments segregated to facilitateunderstanding of the relation thereof;

is a'perspective view'of a box which Fig? -may d formed of the fabricshown in Fig.

Fig. 7 is a lan of a blank died out into proper form or the productionof part of the box shown in Fig; 6.

Refer g'more particularly to Fi s.- 1, 3 and 5 o the drawing, thecomposite abric shown therein as one good form of the invention,comprises a layer 1 which may be of paper or other'appropriate fabric.his layer may be desirably of a strong, thin character, such,forexample, as afforded by maniIla paper. This layer may be pliant 'orso easily flexible that it will not have stifi ness suflicient to renderthe same self-sustaining.

A suitable material or layer 3 may be provided to give the compositefabric substantial stiffness, in order that it may serve the usesreferred to. .This material preferably is made of cheap substance orsubstances which may not have substantial.

stren' h to resist tearing strains, but yet will ave substantialstiffness.

One good-- form of material for this purpose may be' made of wastematerials, such, for example, as the product commercially known as c ipboard. The thickness of this stiffening material or board preferably issubstantially greater than the thickness of the layer 1.

The layers described ma be provided with suitable reinforcing fi amentsof various kinds, but preferably these filaments are unspun fibrespreferably of long staple, such, for example, as sisal, flax, ramie,hemp, and otl ier forms offiiibres. H d

he unspun res are usua prepare 1n rovings or sliver form. That is, thefibres are reclaimed from the woody or other material which naturallyadheres to them, and are then formed into long, untwisted repin s,rovings or slivers.

hese rovings may .,be flattened or made into sheet-like form, with thefibres in substantial parallel relation. The sheet may be attenuated tothe thickness desired. The fibresmay be brought into substantialparallel relation in sheet-like form by any suitable known maohine forthe purpose.

For some purposes it'is desirable that the composite fabric shall beprovided with unspun fibres extending longitudinally and transversely ofthe fabric in crossing relation. In the present instance, in the form offabric shown in Fig. 5, a sheet 5 of unspun fibres is shown extendinglongitudinally -of the fabric, and a sheet 7 of unspun fibres is shownextending transversely of the fabric.

, The present invention contem lat'es that these sheets of unspun fibresshe. be adhesively secured to the layers 1 and 3. Any suitable adhesivema be employed, but

preferably a waterproofadhesive is used, a

to the adhesive layers, and all of thelayers are pressed together so asto form a composite fabric, as shown'in Figs. 1 and 3.

For certain purposes it may suflice to have reinforcing filaments orfibres extending in one direction only. In Figs. 2 and 4 is shown such afabric comprising a layer 13 which may be similar to the layer Ireferred to, a stiffening layer 15 which may be similar to thestifiening layer 3 referred to, unspun fibres 17 extending insubstantial parallel direction, and an adhesive layer or coating 19between the layers 13 and 15, and in which the unspun fibres areembedded.

In pressing the layers together, they may be passed through suitablerollers, one having a metallic surface, and the other having a rubbersurface, the construction being such that when the fabric is passedbetween the rollers, the fibres may form slight ridges 21 in the paperor fabric layer adjacent the rubber surface roll.

The thinner outer layer 1 provides a strong outer surface, therelatively thick layer 3 provides stiffness, the filaments or unspunfibres provide strength, and the waterproof layer or layers preventmoisture from working through the fabric.

The fabric of the present invention is adapted for many different uses,such, for example, as in the production of boxes, wrappers and othercontainers. I

As illustrating the use of the fabric in making boxes, reference may behad to Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing. A blank 23 may be died out from thereinforced stiffened fabric, and have a back 25, sides 27 and ends 29provided with wings 31 suitabl formed to interlock with slits 33 in thesi cs 27.

Preferably the stiffening layer'is at the inner face of the box, and thestrong and more durable layer 1 is at the outer face of the box. Toenable bending-of the sides,

I ends and wings, the blank may be scored along lines 35 at the junctureof the body with the sides, along lines 37 at the juncture of the bodywith the ends, and along lines 39 at the juncture of the wings with theends. These scoring lines are on the stiffening layer, and weaken thesame somewhat, so that the sides and ends may be folded into planesperpendicular with the plane of the body 25 and the wings 31 may ,befolded into planes perpendicular to the ends 29, and be interlo ed withthe slits 23,

thereby forming the body 41 of the box.

shown in Fig. 6. The cover may be siniilarl formed.

en the blank is made 'froma composite the same and prevent rupture ofthe composite fabric along said lines.

Thus, -a box or container is provided which is self-sustaining and ofsufficient stiffness 'to hold itsshape due to the stiffening layer 3.The outer surface is sufliciently strong to resist wear due to thecharacter of the layer 1. The folds of the box are reinforced by thefilaments or unspun fibres extending transversely thereof, and theingress of moisture through the box is prevented by the waterproofadhesive. The wings 31 are desirably reinforced by the filaments orfibres, and can be relied upon to securely interlock with the slits 33without rupture of the wings and consequent release of the con nectionof the sides and ends. For some purposes the box may be formed of afabric having reinforcing filaments or fibres running in one directiononly, but in boxes or 1. As an article of manufacture, a compositereinforced stiffened fabric for making'boxes and other purposes,comprising a paper layer, a stiffening board substantially thicker thanthe paper layer, a sheet of reinforcing or strengthening unspun fibresextending in general parallel relation, and an adhesive layersecuringthe paper layer, backingand the series of unspun fibres together.

2. As an article of manufacture, a cornposite reinforced stiffenedfabric for making boxes and other urposes, comprising a fabric layer, astiffening board substantially thicker than the paper layer, a series ofreinforcing strengthenin unspun fibres ex-. tending in general pa lelrelation, and a waterproof adhesive layer securing the paper layer,stiffening board and unspun fibres together.

3. As an article of manufacture, a composite reinforced stiffened fabricfor making boxes and other purposes, comprising-a paper layer, astiffening board substantia ly thicker than the paper layer, sheets ofreinforcing strengthening unspun fibres adhesively secured to the paperla er and' stiffening board, the fibres of said sheets extending intransverse relation to reinforce the fabric-in transverse directions.

4. As an article of manufacture, a composite reinforced stiffened fabricfor making boxes and other purposes, comprising a strong, thin fabric, astiffening board substantially thicker than said fabric, and a series ofreinforcing strenthening unspun fibres extending in general parallelrelation, and adhesively secured to the fabric and stiffening board.

5. As an article of manufacture, a composite reinforced stiffened fabricfor making boxes and other purposes, comprising a a series ofreinforcing or strengthening in dependent filaments extending in generalparallel relation and adhesively secured to {)he paper layer and thethicker stiffening oard.

6. As an article of manufacture a cornposite reinforced stiffened fabricfor ma-krelation between the paper layer and the stiffening board andembedded in the adhesive layer.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name. to this s ecification.

G ORGE OTIS COOMBS.,

